Rondo-Rose point guard matchup takes center stage

Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls are the two premiere point guards in the Eastern Conference. They square off once again on Friday night at the TD Garden with the NBA’s leader in assists, Rondo, going against the third-leading scorer, Rose.

By Jim Fenton

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

By Jim Fenton

Posted Dec. 3, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2010 at 3:01 AM

By Jim Fenton

Posted Dec. 3, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2010 at 3:01 AM

BOSTON

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They are the two premiere point guard in the Eastern Conference with different styles and different roles.

Rajon Rondo is a pass-first player and a key to the Boston Celtics’ defense with his speed and quick hands.

Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is more of a scoring threat who is also quite capable of setting up his teammates.

Since Rose arrived in the NBA as the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft, the two have played against each other in eight regular-season games (the Celtics hold a 5-3 edge) and went head-to-head in a memorable 2009 playoff series won in seven games by Boston.

Tonight, the Eastern Conference point-guard rivalry resumes when Rondo and the Celtics host Rose and the Bulls at the TD Garden (8:05, TV: Comcast SportsNet and ESPN; radio: WEEI-850 AM).

In eight regular-season meetings, the 24-year-old Rondo and the 22-year-old Rose have each had their moments. Rondo has averaged 11.4 points on 46 percent shooting and 10.6 assists while Rose’s numbers are 19.3 points on 38 percent shooting and four assists.

They were teammates in the NBA All-Star Game last season and should be together again this February for the East at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Rondo, who is battling a strained left hamstring and plantar fasciitis, is the league leader with 13.8 assists and is sixth with 2.2 steals in addition to averaging 11.4 points and 4.5 rebounds. Rose is third behind Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant in the scoring race, averaging 25.8 points to go with 7.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds.

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, who was a Celtics’ assistant the previous three years, has a unique perspective on the Rondo-Rose matchup and knows what each brings to his respective team.

“They’re both great talents,’’ said Thibodeau during Chicago’s first visit to the Garden last month. “The thing that’s similar is they’ll do whatever’s necessary to win. For us right now, we need Derrick to do more scoring, and he’s done that. He’s developing as a defender right now.

“With Rajon, he understands where he is with that team over there and he knows he’s a pass-first point guard. He’s got to run the team and he has a lot of options, but the thing that impressed me last year with Rajon was when we had all the players go down with injuries, he stepped up his scoring during that period.

“So I think that says a lot about him. I think he understands what’s needed each night to win. So I think if he had to score more, he would.’’

Thibodeau drew up defenses designed to slow down Rose the past two seasons and has an appreciation of what his young guard is capable of doing.

With free-agent acquisition Carlos Boozer sitting out until Wednesday night due to a preseason hand injury, Rose stepped up his scoring, giving the Bulls a boost in that area while also dishing out assists.

Page 2 of 2 - “Derrick, being an opposing coach, you were always concerned about him coming at you with a head of steam,’’ said Thibodeau, “and I think the better our defense becomes, he’ll have more opportunities to get into the open floor and attack.

“Right now, he’s doing a little bit of everything. He’s scoring for us, he’s making plays and I think he got off to a really good s tart offensively and is commanding a double team and when he is being double teamed, he’s finding the open man and getting others easy scoring opportunities.’’

In the first meeting between the Celtics and Bulls on Nov. 5, Rose had 26 points, 12 rebounds and two assists while Rondo had 10 points, 11 assists and four steals. With the game tied at the end of regulation, Rose went one-on-one with Rondo, whose defense prevented him from scoring, forcing overtime.

During the opening round of the ‘09 playoffs, Rondo and Rose were superb with Rondo nearly averaging a triple-double (19.4 points, 11.5 assists and 9.3 rebounds). They seem to increase the intensity level whenever the Celtics and Bulls square off.

“Yeah, they get fired up for each other, I’m sure,’’ said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, whose team is 14-4 with five straight wins. “That’s human nature. It’s good. They’re both sensational.’’

Said Paul Pierce of Rondo: “He takes it as a challenge and you see that in him before the game. You see his focus.’’